Todayโs path rounds are on ๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ, otherwise known as ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐จ๐ฉ๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฎ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
๐๐จ๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ are a part of the ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐จ๐ฉ๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฎ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฑ, which is a group of skin diseases in cats that have a massive infiltration of ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐จ๐ฉ๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ฌ, the main immune cell that responds to parasites and allergens.
๐๐ก๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Cats get this condition!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
The exact underlying cause is unknown, however it is suspected to be an allergic response. The main allergens suggested are environmental allergens, food, or insect bites.
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ?
Rodent ulcers specifically cause enlargement of the upper lip, often with ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง (loss of the surface layers of the skin). Thankfully, these lesions arenโt painful for the cat, but they do make them look rather silly!
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ฌ๐๐?
These lesions are fairly classic, so most of the time the veterinarian can diagnose them just by looking at them. However, there is a small chance that they might be a ๐ง๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ (tumour), so usually a ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ฌ๐ฒ (taking a section of tissue) is recommended.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐?
Typically this condition is managed by removing the allergenic triggerโฆ if you can identify it! There is some research to suggest that flea bites might be the most common inciting cause, so usually these patients receive a long-term flea treatment. If the allergen cannot be identified and removed, then ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ข๐๐ฌ to suppress the immune system may be used in some cases.
๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ
1-6) Silly looking kitties with rodent ulcers!
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ
Maxie, G. Jubb, Kennedy and Palmerโs Pathology of Domestic Animals, Volume 1. Sixth Edition.
Photos 1-6 ยฉ Noahโs Arkive contributor Latimer, Harrington, Vtscharner, Prestwood, Luginbuhl licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
